The business behind the show

'Twilight' Countdown: Robert Pattinson invites fans to chat

October 30, 2008 | 2:00
pm

21 days left...

Last month, my Times colleague Gina McIntyre got to interview several of the vampires from "Twilight" for a story on the upcoming film. Of course, much of her lengthy conversation with Robert Pattinson, Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutzdidn't make the final version. (That story hits stands Sunday, but I'll be posting it early Friday just for you guys. Call it "Twilight" at 9 a.m. Don't forget!)

Gina has agreed to shower us with the uncensored bits you won't find in the paper from now until the premiere. First up, Pattinson reveals that talking to his fans is "always kind of nice." That looks like an invitation to me.

Here's an excerpt:

For someone who can’t go to a shopping mall without getting mobbed, Robert Pattinson seems awfully uncomfortable in the spotlight. The actor told The Times he hates to watch himself on screen, though he said he might make an exception for “Twilight.”

“I am kind of curious. I guess now the character has become this semi-iconic thing to quite a lot of people.”

Um, you could say that.

Pattinson, or R. Patz, as he’s been dubbed by the adoring fandom, said he knew that big changes were in store as soon as he landed the role of Edward in the movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling novel. What tipped him off? Teenage girls began following him around London.

“It’s happened since the day it got said that I was playing the part,” Pattinson said, running his hands through his hair. “It was like a day when it changed. [People went from saying] ‘Are you the guy from ‘Harry Potter’? to ‘It’s Edward!’ It’s really, really strange.”

When asked if he thinks he’ll ever become accustomed to that aspect of his newfound celebrity, he simply replied, “No. It’s just a certain amount of acceptance, I guess. The only kind of strange thing is when you get photographed,” he continued. “When people come up to you, it’s completely understandable, but if someone’s secretly photographing you that’s kind of weird. I don’t think you’d ever get used to that. You can’t really live normally when that’s happening. But people coming up to you is always kind of nice. I don’t do anything during my day, so it’s someone to talk to.”